Pair embark on 1,000-mile drive to Barcelona for neo-natal unit
TWO brothers are gearing up to drive hundreds of miles in a beaten-up banger.
Brothers John and Steve Batty are preparing to take part in the Barcelona Bangers Rally for the second year running.
The driving duo will travel about 1,000 miles to raise money for the neo-natal intensive care unit at Scunthorpe General Hospital.
The rally runs from Calais to Barcelona, and all participants must drive it in a car costing no more than £200.
And the two men will drive to their destination dressed as film star musicians the Blues Brothers.
John and Steve are relying on the same car they used last year, a 16-year-old BMW 316 which they have re-decorated in preparation for the event. In the previous rally, they were raising money for the Help For Heroes campaign, and painted their car in the charity's colours.
This time around they have gone for a Blues Brothers theme, decorating the car in the style of a classic American police car.
John, 42, and Steve, 40, are working extremely hard to raise money for the neo-natal unit at the hospital because it is one area they say gets very little fundraising.
Steve said: "We have some close friends whose children were taken into the unit shortly after they were born, so it's a cause that is very close to home.
"When you see the babies there first-hand, some of them are small enough to fit on your palm.
"Seeing that made us keen to raise money for the unit, because they don't receive as much help as some other wards."
John added: "An incubator costs £15,000, so everything we raise will help."
Lin Batty, 26, has been working hard with the siblings to gather as much money as possible, and is responsible for a lot of the fundraising organisation.
She has organised a family fun-day at the Beacon Hotel in Scunthorpe for Saturday, November 6.
The brothers are also both car enthusiasts and love the experience of driving across the continent.
John said: "The challenge of getting from Scunthorpe to Calais, and then Calais to Barcelona, in such an old car is exciting.
"The camaraderie on the journey spurs you on, and some of the sights are incredible. Driving along the B roads in the French Alps always provides a good view."
To sponsor John and Steve, call 07858 735219.
Comments
by John, There
Thursday, February 17 2011, 8:29PM
“Wow - so you are going to spend £100s to have a jolly to Spain? And expect people to sponsor you to do it?
What are we sponsoring exactly? I expect the trip will collectively cost the entrants approx £130,000 - why don't you just sit at home and gawp at Top Gear rather than emulating the presenters and donate what money you would have spent instead.....rather than rely on the honest public to counter-fund your road trip. The overall benefit to charity would be greater this way - this trip devalues the whole concept of charity fund raising. It's disgusting - it has nothing to do with charity whatsoever!! You fancy driving to Spain with the lads, that's all.
If you were riding to Barcelona on push bikes I would be impressed, but anyone can drive a car for crying out loud!! I hope all you have a nice time "driving a car - wow" and unnecessarily burning 4000 gallons of fuel!”